Anil Kapoor’s train stunt lands agency in soup

The marketing agency that had hired actor Anil Kapoor for a shoot onboard a train has been sent a notice for breaching the terms of contract, after the actor was clicked hanging out of the train on the footboard during a shoot on Thursday.

Mr Kapoor was seen standing on the footboard of a train travelling from Churchgate to Marine Drive even as elaborate efforts are being taken by the railways to curb deaths due to stunts done by the youth while standing on the footboard.

Mr Kapoor travelled by train to promote his forthcoming television drama series.

The shoot took place at around 12.30 pm and the photographs found themselves on social media websites by early evening, following which many people took offence to the actor’s actions. A photograph shows the actor hanging out of the train with one hand holding on to the pole, while he punches the air with his fist with the other.

Western Railway (WR), Railway Police Force (RPF) inspector general Uday Kumar said that the marketing consultant, reportedly called MarketMen, has been sent a notice on the railways’ behalf. “We have sent a notice to the agency that had done the paperwork for this particular shoot with the Western Railway,” said Mr Kumar.

The Railway Police Force (RPF) on the Western Railway has in fact been conducting a special drive from July 1 to 14 against travelling on footboard and has caught 2,809 commuters under section 156 of the Railway Act.

Mr Kapoor himself will get a cautionary note from the WR RPF in which he will be asked to refrain himself from such actions. “We have sent the actor himself a cautionary note about how the young tend to emulate such stunts done by individuals who enjoy as much as popularity as he does,” said WR senior divisional railway manager, Anand Vijay Jha.

Mr Jha said they would also ask Mr Kapoor to be their brand ambassador for the drive against standing on the footboard.

According to an official from the WR, the following notice was issued: “Inspite of the terms & conditions to adhere strictly to safety and security during shoot, Anil Kapoor allegedly seems to be leaning from footboard of a local train during a promo shoot on July 14, 2016, as observed in videos on social media. An explanation has been sought from production company M/s MarketMen Consumer & Events Pvt Ltd in this regard.” According to sources, the production house that hired the marketing agency is Rash Van Corporation.